Sterilizing attachment for the mouthpieces of speaking instruments.



W. WILLIAMS. STERILIZING ATTACHMENT FOR THE MOUTHPIBGES 0F SPEAKING INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10,1909.

Patenta Dec. 28, 1909.

2'SHEETSSHEET 2.

UN ED STATES Parana onnron.

WILLIAIVL WILLIAMS. OF HORKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

STERILIZING ATTACHMENT THE MOUTHPIECES OF SPEAKING INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented D00. 28. 1 909.

Application filed May 10, 1909. Serial No. 494.948.

To all when it may concer it: I

Be it known that I, \ViLLini VILLIAMS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hopkinsville, in the county of Christian, State of .Kentucky. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steriliziiig Attachments for the Mouthpieces of Speak- I ing Instruments; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it,

appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in attachments for the mouth pieces'of speaking instruments and is particularly adapted for use in connection with the mouth piece "piece in a sai'iitary condition.

Another ob ect is the provision of an im-,

oi' transmitter of a telephone.

It has for its object the provision of an attachment which is .adapted'to be readily clamped to most forms of telephone mouth pieces now in use and when so positioned will operate to maintain the said mouth.

proved form of tube which contains the disinfecting substance so arranged that the latter will be distributed on the inner face I of the mouth piece and further designed to .ott'er no resistance to the sound waves pass-' ing to the diaphragm. y

" A. further object is the provision of an improved form of 'cap or closure for the open end of the mouth piece which is designed to prevent the entrance of dust or changes iir-the form, proportion size and minor details of the device may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanyingdrawings forming part .of the specification :-Figure l is a front elevation ofia telephone showing my improved device applied to the mouth piecethereof. Fig. 2 is a detailed side elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a rear end View thereof; Fig is a longitudinal sectional wow. 1.

Similar numerals of reference are cmplloyed to designate corresponding parts iroughout.

As shown in'the drawings the casing ofi.

the teiephon'e and its parts are designated in general by the numeral with the standard of the mouth piece which is shown at 6.

' This latter member. is of the usual construction and is substantially bell-shaped in contour.

What vwill subsequently be termed a cap is designated in gencralliy the numeral 7. This member is slightly greater in diameter than the outer end of the mouth piece and is designed to completelyclose the same,

when applied as shown in Fig. 1. The cap may be formed of any suitable material and is provided. with a centrally disposed aiid substantialiy finsto conical depression 8. while .a portion adjacent the periphery of the cap is turned laterally soas to provide a flange?) which is disposed on the same face of the cap as the projection formed by the, a

depression. The periphery of the outer end of the mouth piece engages the inner faceof the flange so that the tightest possible jointis formed between the mouth piece and cap. The outer face of the flange is provided with a plurality of spaced openings through each of Which extends'a-clamp arm. The clamping device may, if desired, be formed of a single piece ofresilient Wire or the like which is disposed on the inner face'of the Flange 9 and at certain intervals is formed into loops 10 which are extended through the openings of the flange and theii curved over the outer face of the flange and are directed inwardly as shown at 11 on a curved line so as to conforn'i to the curvature of the outer face of the mouth piece. It is to he understood, however, that I am not-to be limited to this specific form of clamping arm since it can be readily seen that each clamping arm might be formed of a single piece of resilient wire or the like, the opposite terminals of which could be inserted through the openings in the flange and clenched against the inner face thereof. The inwardly extending projection formed by I the depression .8 will, When the parts are in position extend for a short.distance in' the month piece and the central, portion of this depression is provided with an annular opening to receive the disinfectingjtube.

The tube 11 may be of any suitable materiai and; is ofa' diameter to snugly fit within the opening of the cap .and may be further secured therein by means of packing or the like. The opposite ends of the tube extend for equal distances beyond the opposite faces of the central portion of the depression 8, and the upper Qvided witha plurality of spaced annular o enings 14. w ich are disposed above the p ane of the flange 12. The opposite end of the tube 11 or that disposed within the mouth piece or transmitter is provided with a hollow bulb shaped cup 15, the diameter of which is slightly greater than that of the tube. The open end of the bulb 15 is thread edand adtpted to receive the inner end of the tube 11 while the greater portion of its surface in advance of the open end is provided with a plurality of perforations 16. The bulb contains a sponge or the, like which is adapted to hold a slowly vaporizing antiseptic and may be interiorly provided with an annular flange 17- disposed between the open end and innermost circle of the openings 16 and which is adapted to support the sponges 18 between its face and the inner end of the tube 11.

In the normal position of the parts as shown in Fig. 1 the bulb 16 will extend for a considerable distance into the tube of the mouth piece but not far'enough to hamper the ribrations of the diaphragm while the outer end OftllC. bottom will project slightly in advance of the plane of the cap. Thus it will be seen'when the voice is directed into the de n'ession 8 the-sound will pass through the opening 1%, tube. 11, sponge 18 and out through the opening 10 to vibrate the diaplnragm in the usual manner.

It has been found in practice that the provision of the sponge and its contents will in no way detract from the usefulness of the telephone. It can be seen in the use of the device that the currents of anpassing through the sponge to will diffuse the vapor and disinfectant. throughout the inner surface of the mouth piece.

The utility of the device will be readily appreciated since-it is well known thatthe inouth'pieces of tele hones and more particularly those at pu lic stations have been known to spread numerous diseases amon the users. It can be seen with a device 0 this. kind that. all disease germ life will be eradicated from the mouth piece and from the outer face of the cap by reason of the fumes of the disinfectant. t

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new, 1s

v 1; in a disinfecting attachment for the mouth piece of a speaking instrument, the combination with a cap forming a closure for the mouth piece and having a peripheral perforated flange to bear on the outer edge of the mouth piece and a wire fastener bent upon itself and extended through the perfo rations of the flange, to provide clamp arms to bear on the outer face of the mouth piece.

. containing a disinfecting substance and provided at its outer end with a perforated button.

4. In a disinfecting attachment'for the mouth piece of a speaking instrument, a

.tube having a perforated bulb on one end interiorly provided with a disinfecting substance and provided at its opposite end with an oblong button having openings adjacent said tube.

5; In a disinfecting attachment for the mouth piece of a speaking instrument a tube 'novided at one end \vitha perforated bulb containing a disinfecting substance, a perforated button at the opposite end ozt'zsaid tube and a closure plate disposed bet-\vtam said bulb and button.

In testimony whereof, l aliix my signa-- ture, in presence of two witnesses.

p w ILL] A. u w lLLljA M s.

Witnesses F. P. S'rowi-z l); ADAMS. 

